Friday, September 09, 2016

The Involvement of University Students in Drug Abuse

A growing
addiction among students in tertiary institutions would shock many parents. In several public and private tertiary
institutions, marijuana and other drugs have become spies for food. After the
days hectic academic work, students addicted to these drugs retire to their
hostel for a treat.

They eat jollof
rice cooked with Indian hemp and wash it down with fruit juice spiked with other
hard drugs.

Investigations
revealed the ungodly world of several students in both public and private tertiary
institutions who live on drug. They attend lectures dutifully in the day, but
sneak into their closet at night to befuddle their brains with drugs.

Like a
strange fiction, pepper soup, rice, beans or noodles spiced with Indian hemp
has become favorite dish on campus. The meal is often shared among close friends
in their rooms, thereby making it difficult for university security personnel
to detect the crime.

Findings revealed
that lots of male students living off campus play a fast game by preparing
pepper soup with Indian hemp to entertain their female visitors. These innocent
girls, who carelessly walk into trap, often have sad stories to tell.

To worsen
the situation, female victims get so confused about what actually transpired,
thereby making it difficult to press charges of sexual harassment against their
randy hosts.

Some of the
University students addicted to drugs confessed on the condition of anonymity. They
claimed that the preparing of pepper soup, rice, noodles or beans with Indian hemp
has no health risk. They said the dish improves their sleeping time and reduces
the stress due to academic work. Eating the dish, they claimed, brings a
feeling of euphoria and a deep urge to sleep after the day’s work.

A student in
one of the universities in the south west region, Hakeem admitted spicing his
food with Indian hemp whenever his friends come over for the weekend. He said
putting the dried leaves in their food keeps them “mentally high”

Another
student in a southeast polytechnic, who gave his name as Micky, said eating marijuana
has huge health benefits. People don’t know that hemp has health benefits too. It
is rich in fiber and aid satiety, holding your stomach longer between meals. Fatty
acids in hemp also help reduce risks of heart related diseases, so I guess I need
it as a student.

Further
investigation revealed that in parties organized on campus, students drink what
they call Schooshi, made from
watermelon, pineapple, lemonade, mint, or pink lemonade. They also mix this
local drink with ‘thirsty thyme’, black current and marijuana as an additive.

Apart from schooshi, there is another popular drink
like rum and marijuana, this concoction, which is often left to ferment for
some days, is often served during initiation of new members into campus cult
groups.

There are other drinks known as monkey tail, Gegemu, in local parlance that have become common among students.

One of the
female students in a faith based private university said those university that
banned smoking on campus would be shocked to discover that a large population
of their students habitually take spiked drinks after dinner.

One of the
male students, who had in the past eaten rice cooked with Indian hemp. He explained
that he never suspected that the rice contained Indian hemp but became worried
when his vision started failing him, and his head started swirling after the
meal. I didn’t know what happened. I passed out.

My friend pulled my clothes
and left me on the floor. I was later told that I slept for more than six
hours. When I woke up, I felt terribly hungry and drank a bowlful of garri, he
said.

Male students smoking in their off - campus residence

Another student,
who consciously ate the drugged food to prove himself before his peers, said he
staggered about for hours, dazed and confused. I prepared beans and added a
full whole wrap of Indian hemp.

I decided to take a nap before doing laundry,
but I woke up about 20 minutes later and found myself rolling on the floor. I was
hitting my head on the floor and I couldn’t stop.

My heartbeat was so audible
and fast, everything was extra bright and very loud. After a few minutes of confusion,
I struggled to my feet but I felt as I had just gained access to a part of my
mind that I never knew existed previously. I started punching my chest but that
made no difference.

Dr. Joe Okie
– Odumakin a human rights activist, who recently joined students at the
University of Lagos in a rally organized to promote a drug free life on campus.
Said the campaign was timely and geared towards encouraging our youths to desist
from substance abuse.

We cannot
continue to lose our youths to the ruins caused by serial use of hard drugs. Sometimes
our young boys and girls take drugs and narcotics to alleviate pain but most of
the times to get thrill at the persuasion of their friends. By and by they
become addicted to this bad habit, she said.

She noted
that the growing addiction to drugs by youngsters could be blamed on lack of
parental love and care. She explained that the economic pressure in the society
has increased the number of working parents, both husband and wife, who
consequently deny their sons and daughters the required companionship and
parentage.

Okie –
Odumakin said drug addicts become immoral and commit various crimes in order to
get their daily drugs. They must get their dose of it at the fixed time and
amount, and probably if they do not get it, they feel weak and become incapable
of the least movement.

They lose
their conscience, self – control, willpower and memory, in absence of which
they become anti – social elements, engaging in anti –social activities. Sometimes
the evil results in suicide and the ruin of the whole family. If not suicide,
the drugs and narcotics have fatal effects which invite untimely death, she
said.

She called
for public awareness to enlighten the young ones on the dangers of illicit
drugs. “The young boys and girls must be made aware of the fact that they will
be crippled by the rampant use of drugs. Not only this, there should be a
concentrated drive against smugglers, who smuggle various drugs and narcotics
into the country. These smugglers are the real enemies and they must be given
strict punishment.

A concerned
parent, said drug education should form part of the curriculum, right from the
primary school level. She advised parents to monitor their children effectively
and to conduct regular search of their children’s room, luggage whenever they
spend their holidays at home.